Friday, June 27, 2008

Composition Toddler-Undergarments, part 3

Still working on the arms....seems to be going slowly. Good thing there isn't much to them. Meanwhile, to break up the constant scraping, I've moved onto the undergarments.

I really did not know where to start with the costuming of this doll. I had a general idea what fabric I wanted and located it in two days. I know she needs pantlets, slip, dress, socks, shoes, and maybe a bonnet. This is of my source of inspiration, the t-shirt she was wearing when I bought her. It isn't original to her but old, and I couldn't see throwing it away.
The t-shirt rest just below the breastplate of my doll, finding a sheer white or ivory fabric would be ideal. I'm thinking the best thing to do is stitch the lower half of the slip onto the t-shirt. The fabric I found for both the slip and pantlets is indeed sheer, it has heavy thread lines that run through it. You can see it in the next picture of the panties. I made the legs longer but found some wide lovely lace, so I shortened them.
When thinking about the attire as a whole, I definitely wanted everything to match, decorative stitching in matching pink thread would do. I blanket stitched a hem for the waistband and chain stitched the lace on the legs.

I also placed a running ribbon through the lace so I could tie the pantlets closed around the legs, making a gathered look.

I forgot to mention why I started with the pantlets instead of the slip, The length of the pantlets determined the length of the slip.........the length of the slip determines the length of the dress.........I may make the socks long enough to be under the pantlets, I don't know yet.........
Moved onto the slip, it was definitely more enjoyable then the pantlets. I used double the fabric for the pantlets and placed a gusset in the area of tightness, the crotch. Because this doll has legs towards the front of the body, the panties needed a gusset to make it form fitting otherwise I'd have real baggy pantlets and I didn't want too much material under the dress. I had good success stitching the bottom part of the slip to the t shirt, I was worried it would stitch to tight and tear when removed but it turned out alright.
I pleated the bottom of the slip twice and embroidered the blanket stitch to each pleat.
She doesn't look bad in her unmentionables, does she? I have most of one arm striped and I'm trying to post on her every third day, Maybe soon enough I'll be ready to paint. Oh, too excited about that! And having her clothes ready! A post on shoes may be next, hope all goes well with the rest of the arms.
Stitch in' Britches. C&G Design.

8 comments:

tina said...

She looks really, really good. I am enjoying this series.

Dawn said...

I am too, I'll have to think of another one when I'm done.

Jean Merriman said...

The outfit is starting to shape up very good and the arm sure does looks much better. It will be a beauth. I wish the pics would enlarge so I could see it all better.

Dawn said...

Mom, I'm not sure why the pics aren't enlarging, baffles me. I'll keep checking in the preview mode of my dash, before posting.

Skeeter said...

Great job on the undies!

Dawn said...

Thanks guys, she is coming along nicely and I'm getting excited about her being done. Thanks Skeeter, for the laugh.

christinelynn said...

I like the new outfit for the doll. The undergarment?? is really nice, but I am thankful that women do not wears those things anymore. Could imagine?!

Dawn said...

Me too, whew! It would be far too hot and far too much trouble!